Florida Mediation and Parenting Coordination Blog
Plain answers to the questions Florida families ask before they sit down at the table: what mediation costs, what a parenting coordinator can and cannot decide, and how the court rules apply to your case. Written by Jessica Oliver, LCSW (SW18101), a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator (44460 CF) and Qualified Parenting Coordinator.
What Should I Bring to Divorce Mediation in Florida?
A current financial affidavit, the Rule 12.285 disclosure package, a proposed parenting plan, and a proposed equitable distribution worksheet. Hillsborough requires the exchange ten days before the session.
How Long Does Divorce Mediation Take in Florida?
Most Florida family mediations run one session of two to three hours, but three different clocks govern your case. The 75-day rule, the 90-day referral deadline, and the 20-day floor on a final judgment.
What Happens If Mediation Fails in Florida?
Impasse is not the end of your case. The mediator reports that no agreement was reached, without comment or recommendation. What that means for your deadlines, your partial agreement, and what a second session costs.
Is Mediation Required Before Divorce in Florida?
Florida does not make you mediate before you file for divorce. Once the case is contested, the court usually will. What section 44.102 requires, what Hillsborough orders, what it costs, and how domestic violence changes the analysis.
Mediation vs. Collaborative Divorce in Florida: Which Is Right for You?
Mediation uses one neutral to help both spouses negotiate directly. Collaborative divorce gives each spouse an attorney and adds neutral professionals, and the attorneys must withdraw if the case goes to court. A side-by-side look at which path fits your family.
How Much Does Divorce Mediation Cost in Florida?
Divorce mediation at Calm in Chaos is $250 an hour with a two-hour minimum. Why that usually costs a fraction of a litigated divorce, what pushes the total up or down, and how to prepare so you use fewer hours.